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Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Lake Norman
An inclusive community embracing individual spiritual growth
-- living our beliefs through works
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Our services begin at 11 a.m. Sundays in the Lodge at Woodlawn School,
just north of Davidson. A nursery for children up to pre-kindergarten age starts at 10:45 a.m. in the classroom adjacent to the Lodge. Children in K-5th grade go to Spiritual Exploration following the children's story during the service.
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May 1: "The Four A's: Allowance, Acceptance, Acclimation, and Agreement" with member Nancy Brower
Join us for an exploration of these concepts touted by many of today's spiritual teachers and what it might mean to apply these to our lives.
May 8: "Parenting and Living in an LGBTQ World" with Rev. Amy Brooks and member Karin Peterson
How do we learn about and be sensitive to the issues of our diverse community as coworkers, friends, family, and parents? Join us as we offer personal experience and ideas to further our conversation and understanding.
May 15: "Blessings That Come From a Near-Divorce" with guest speaker Krissa Palmer Sometimes blessings show up when you least expect them. Even from heart-wrenching times in our lives, blessings and pathways can open that we never could have imagined.
Krissa is a member of Piedmont UU Church and a life-long UU. She has decided to go to seminary after a long and interesting career. (You have probably heard her voice on WFAE.) May 22: "Ordinary Blessings" with Rev. Amy Brooks
Join us for a time of reflection on how taking the time to notice small details can change the outcome of a day and the impact of a life. Ordinary blessings can lead to extraordinary lives.
The Fellowship's annual meeting will follow the service. Details under Announcements.
May 29: "To Be A Blessing" with Rev. Robin Tanner This is a Service Sunday! Join us at the regular service time and, after a brief introduction, we will share in an onsite service project. This month we will be preparing food for area shelters to serve. Activities will be ready for all ages and accessibility ranges. Rev. Tanner is lead minister at Piedmont UU Church.
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Milestones
We send Ida Keir our best wishes for safe travels and much happiness in her new venture as she moves to be closer to family in the great state of Oregon!
Our caring thoughts are with the Kirk family as they support Matt's sister during her time in hospice care.
We offer our support to the Worthington family during Kim's hospital stay.
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Sunday morning groups
The Humanist Discussion Group meets at 9:45 a.m. in classroom #2. The group regularly meets on the first and third Sundays of the month -- this month, May 1 and May 15. The group welcomes all those interested in discussing life from a humanist perspective.
The Adult Discussion Group is not meeting at this time.
Youth Spiritual Exploration (grades 5 and up): Youth are welcome to stay for the service or leave with the children for a separate break-out discussion.
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Music notes
In the next few weeks, we'll enjoy the adult choir's presence during several of our services. Adult choir continues on a regular Tuesday night schedule of rehearsals through May.
But it's exciting to be involved with the children for the next few weeks, too. Children's choir classes have  been meeting each Sunday morning before the service to learn how to work as an ensemble: Following the director, breathing, singing together, playing cool Orff instruments.
We're seeing the results already in appearances of the children in services, culminating with some special music on May 8. You can look forward to hearing them sing a song to you: "When I am Frightened." If you listen carefully to the words (by Shelley Jackson Denham), you'll hear them ask your help as a Fellowship, in modelling the right way to grow up and live.
And if we listen to the words of Prince (may he rest in peace), we hear in his music some ideas many of us may already espouse: "Think of the future ... love is there if you'd just open up to it ... I can't help that what's cool to us might be strange to you ... Pardon me for breathing; can we borrow some of your air? ... I hope they bury your old ideas the same time they bury you..."
And, let us UUs not forget: "New world needs spirituality that will last" (also by Prince.)
Finally, let us remember the words of cellist Pablo Casals: "Music will change the world." May it be so. RIP Prince.
Theresa Woody
Music Director
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Stewardship campaign
The results are mostly in. Warm thanks go out to everyone, members and friends, who pledged their treasure to support UU Lake Norman in the coming fiscal year. The results were not all we had hoped. The current pledge total is about $42,0000. Some longtime members are leaving us to be closer to family or to continue their spiritual journeys in other directions. Others have had to adjust their support of our Fellowship due to family circumstances.
The board is working to create a budget that keeps as much money as possible in the areas we care most about -- that includes children and music and pastoral care. The new budget will be presented in detail at the May 22 annual meeting. Supporting our Fellowship is an investment in its future. And we are the only investors! Many have pledged their time and talent. We are grateful and will happily put all that volunteer treasure to work. If anyone wants to pledge additional money for the coming year, just email treasurer Anne Pender.
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Save these dates:
o TBD: Smithville Community Gardens
o May 29: Social Action Sunday (Memorial Day weekend), by the Social Action Committee with Piedmont UU Church
o June 18: Adopt-a-Highway for the second quarter
o June 25: Habitat for Humanity women-build landscaping
o July 31: Social Action Sunday
o Aug. 19-21: Charlotte Gay Pride weekend
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Membership: It's a two-sided coin. Life is a journey in which there is always a flow. As some of our church family journey on to new places, we wish them well in their travels. With joy in our hearts, we wish them safety and joy as they travel to new places in their lives.
Ida Keir is leaving to join her twin daughters and grandchildren in Oregon. John Lawrence has left us to join his wife, living in Maine full-time. Marion Shapiro and Dana Overcash, both long-time members, are journeying on to find different spiritual experiences. All of them have added to the life and spirituality of our family here at UU Lake Norman. They leave knowing they gave us all joy in their presences and that they will not easily be forgotten.
The other side of the coin is that we are growing in many ways. New families are joining us for Sunday services. They are with and without small children that add to the life of our Fellowship. They actively participate in the life of our Fellowship. They volunteer to do set-up, food preparation, assist with children's SE, and in Circle Dinners.
Coffee and Conversation will be scheduled in future months for all of us to learn more about our rich heritage and the many UUs who have gone before us. After-service conversations are plentiful with visitors and members. We are the small, friendly church that has a place in its heart for you.
Margie Flowers,
Membership
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Announcements
Annual UU picnic
The picnic with groups from the Piedmont UU and Charlotte UU churches will be May 21, rain or shine, at Reedy Creek Park, Shelter #2. We had a large group from UU Lake Norman last year and it was good food and fun for all ages. Please bring chairs and a dish to share to feed your family plus one. If you have special food needs, please bring accommodations. There will be children's activities and we are asking musicians to bring instruments for a jam session after we eat. Come meet other area UUs! An internet sign up will be sent to everyone before the picnic. For questions, please contact Billie Rosene or Carmen Wagner.
Annual meeting
The Fellowship's annual meeting will follow the May 22 service. We will vote on the slate of candidates for the 2016-17 Board of Trustees and review the budget for the coming year. All members are encouraged to attend so that we may share updates and answer any questions.
Circle dinners
We want to get to know each other better! With Grace Bouchoucha's leadership, various members have offered to host dinners for six to eight guests from the congregation. Starting in late April and continuing well into May, we can take the time to share a meal and visit. For more information and to sign up, please contact Grace.
Sunday refreshments
Would you like to share some of your choice refreshments with our Fellowship? There is a calendar on the information table with available dates beginning in May. Everyone will appreciate what you bring and you can be reimbursed by giving your receipts to our treasurer, Anne Pender. Thank you!
Book group
T he group next meets on Wednesday, May 18, at 7 p.m. The selection is Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf. For more information, please email bookclub@uulakenorman.org.
Animal rescue
UU Lake Norman raised $116.23 for Lake Norman Animal Rescue at their-animal centered Earth Day service in late April. Thank you to all for supporting our children and helping animals in need.
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Our website is full of information on our congregation and Unitarian Universalism.
Board of Trustees: Veronique Singerman, president: president@uulakenorman.org Sandy McFeeley, secretary Anne Pender, treasurer Rodger Clark, trustee Dan Aldridge, trustee Nicole Gantz, trustee Eddie Gunn, trustee Remember to "Like" us on Facebook. We announce our upcoming services and events there and hope you will share them with your friends and family.
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